340 THE SCARLET TANAGER. 



until the breeding season is over. The nest is made of rather rough materials, such, as flax- 

 stalks and dry grass, and is so loosely put together that the light is perceptible through the 

 interstices of the walls. The number of eggs is generally three, and their color is dullish blue, 

 variegated with brown and purplish spots. While engaged in the business of incubation, both 

 birds are extremely terrified at the presence of any strange object, and if a human being 

 approaches the nest, the male flies to a little distance and keeps cautiously aloof, peering 

 through the boughs at the foe, and constantly fearful of being seen. The female also leaves 

 the nest, but continues to fly restlessly about her home, hovering over the eggs or young in 

 great distress. When, however, the young are hatched, the male parent takes his full share 

 in attending upon them, and cares nothing for being seen. 



The attachment of the male bird to his young seems to be very strong, as is shown by the 

 following account, extracted from Wilson : — 



" Passing through an orchard, and seeing one of these young birds that had but lately left 

 the nest, I carried it with me about half a mile to show it to my friend, Mr. William Bartram, 

 and having procured a cage, hung it up on one of the large pine-trees in the Botanic Garden, 

 within a few feet of the nest of an orchard oriole, which also contained young, hopeful that 

 the charity and kindness of the orioles would induce them to supply the cravings of the 

 stranger. But charity with them, as with too many of the human race, began and ended 

 at home. 



"The poor orphan was altogether neglected, notwithstanding its plaintive cries, and as it 

 refused to be fed by me, I was about to return it to the place where I found it, when towards 

 the afternoon a Scarlet Tanager, no doubt its own parent, was seen fluttering round the cage, 

 endeavoring to get in. Finding this impracticable, he flew off and soon returned with food in 

 his bill, and continued to feed it till after sunset, taking up his lodgings on the higher branches 

 of the same tree. In the morning, almost as soon as day broke, he was again seen most actively 

 engaged in the same affectionate manner, and, notwithstanding the insolence of the orioles, 

 continued his benevolent offices the whole day, roosting at night as before. 



"On the third or fourth day he appeared extremely solicitous for the liberation of his 

 charge, using every expression of distressful anxiety, and every call and invitation that nature 

 had put in his power for him to come out. This was too much for the feelings of my venerable 

 friend ; he procured a ladder, and mounting to the spot where the bird was suspended, opened 

 the cage, took out the prisoner, and restored him to liberty and to his parent, who, with notes 

 of great exultation, accompanied his flight to the woods." 



The tail is forked, and very slightly tipped with white. This plumage is, however, only 

 donned during the breeding season, for in the autumnal moult a number of greenish yellow 

 feathers make their appearance, giving the bird a uniformly dappled or mottled aspect. The 

 female is a comparatively soberly clad bird, being green above and yellow beneath, with wings 

 and tail brownish black, edged with green. The total length of the Scarlet Tanager is between 

 six and seven inches. 



They may readily be distinguished from the other Fringillidse by the notched upper 

 mandible, and by the triangular base and arched ridge of the beak. Most of them are pos- 

 sessed of musical powers; one species, the Organist Tanager (Eiqrftoiiia musica), deriving 

 its popular and scientific title from its rich full tones. The colors of the Tanagers are gen- 

 erally brilliant, scarlet, black, and orange being the ordinary hues with which their plumage 

 is bedecked. 



The Scarlet Tanager is one of Ave species inhabiting the United States. The family of 

 Tanagers is especially American. The larger number of these species are found in South 

 America, where they abound. Many of them excel, in beauty and richness of plumage, any 

 known bird. Wilson says of our visitor, the Scarlet Tanager: "He is dressed in the richest 

 scarlet, set off with the most jetty black. Among all the birds that inhabit our woods, there 

 is none that strikes the eye of a stranger, or even a native, with such brilliancy as this. Seen 

 among the given leaves, with the light falling strongly on his plumage, he is a superb creat- 

 ine." The Louisiana Tanager is native to the Southwestern United States. A Western 

 species is known ; and one, called the Hepatic Tanager, inhabiting Mexico. 



